Fullback Jake Simmons scored a touchdown with 22 seconds left in the game to lift Van Buren Butterfield past the Eastside Whirlwinds 19-15 in the season opener for both teams Thursday at Cyclone Stadium.

RJHS East (0-1) answered every Blazer score throughout the game, but Butterfield recovered an onside kick after its final touchdown to seal the win.

The Butterfield Blazers (1-0) controlled the ball early, gaines 46 yards on the ground in the first quarter alone and earned a 6-0 lead on a 6-yard touchdown run by Simmons. The TD run was set up by a 15-yard scamper by Spencer Rapin on fourth-and-10. On the point-after try, the holder couldn’t handle the snap and fell on the ball.

Russellville didn’t take long to strike back, however. On the ensuing drive, facing second-and-11 at the Whirlwind 39, quarterback Drake Adams kept on an option read and raced through the defense for a 61-yard touchdown run to tie the game up at 6-6. Adams hit Caden Duffield in the right corner of the endzone to convert the 2-point try.

The Blazers were given two freebies at the end of the first half, but couldn’t capitalize on Russellville’s mistakes — including four turnovers. With 10 seconds left in the half, the Whirlwinds punted the ball to Van Buren and the Blazers returned it to their 44 as time ran out. But the Whirlwinds were called for a horse-collar tackle that gave Butterfield the ball at the Russellville 41. On the free play, Rapin ran for 10 yards, but an incidental face mask penalty gave the Blazers the ball at the 26. Rapin almost broke free on the next play, but was stopped by a gang of Whirlwinds at the 15.

In the second half, Van Buren capitalized on two more mistakes committed by RJHS East. After going three-and-out to start the half, the Blazers punted the ball, but Chase Bicanovsky muffed the catch and Butterfield recovered at the Russellville 22.

The Whirlwinds defense stiffened, however, and on fourth-and-14 forced a fumble by Rapin that RJHS East recovered at the 25. On the ensuing play, Russellville’s center snapped the ball over Adams’ head and the Blazers recovered at the 7. Two plays later, Rapin crossed the goal line to make it 12-8. The 2-point conversion failed.

Russellville answered with a 64-yard touchdown pass from Adams to Bicanovsky, and with the PAT took a 15-12 lead.